Travellers How to decrease your risks of Foodborne Illness

Are you one of those people that get sick from food poisoning every time you leave home on holiday? Well there are some simple rules to staying safe when travelling especially when consuming food while travelling abroad.

Commonly referred to as “traveller’s diarrhea or “travellers sickness” food poisoning can be uncomfortable and occasionally life threatening even at home but it’s even worse when travelling. Travellers will agree there are few things worse than being violently ill in a hotel room, far away from home or on the road.

Watch out for drinking water hazards. Water can cause the same violent symptoms as food poisoning and contrary to some people’s beliefs developing countries aren’t the only source of unsafe drinking water. Even developing countries can have contaminated water and the safest way to avoid a bacterial stomach sickness is to avoid tap water. Don’t open your mouth in the shower, and rinse your toothbrush with bottled water instead of tap water. This warning also extends to ice, which may be made with unfiltered water. In developing countries, it’s wise to avoid vegetables or fruit that may have been washed in unfiltered water.

Be careful when eating street food. Although this may be one of the best ways to sample the cuisine a country has to offer it can also be a major source of food poisoning. Never eat anything that has been sitting out, and never eat raw vegetables or fruit that you haven’t peeled yourself. The safest street food is the kind that is cooked in front of you.

There is no way to identify a restaurant that is likely to give you food poisoning because even the best restaurants can have an outbreak occasionally. Try to be cautious when choosing restaurants and eat at establishments that have a clean dining area. If possible, ask your hotel staff for recommendations beforehand.